Page 242 of Enthrall Shadows
“Reese is the perfect deflection,” he said. “You can be quite the smartass when you want to be.”
Right, because me sabotaging this evening had been my idea.
“Henry will catch up with you later and talk to you in private.”
Shay was insinuating that Henry planned to have “the talk”—maybe even the one where he dumped me.
Because soon the world would learn he’d banged a dominatrix.
“Get me a drink,” I said.
He shook his head. “Don’t drink too much.”
“I’m good for him,” I reasoned.
“Really? Because I recall Richard giving you specific instructionsnotto have Henry investigate the upper floor at Chrysalis.”
I wasn’t going to be the one to tell him it was Henry’s idea to go off exploring, breaking their precious rules. They were the ones who got him into Chrysalis.
I changed the subject. “How did the press find out about me?”
Shay guided me along a bright hallway. “The tabloid article appears to be connected to the corporate spy at Cole Tower.”
“Oh, God.”
“We have it contained.”
“I’m not the breach, though, right?”
“No. They’ve been tracking Cameron and Henry for a while.”
The Cole brothers had been trying to protect me from that nightmare.
“They should have warned me.” I cringed at how this evening was already going.
“It happens in businesses.” He waved it off.
We walked the same path as the staff.
The moody vocals of Harry Styles singing his heart out met us at the end of the hall and rose to a crescendo as we entered the event.
At least the music sounded upbeat.
The setting was wondrous.
This was my first time visiting the Colonnade Ballroom. The Cole family had yet again chosen another grand location for their gala.
Guests sat around lavishly decorated tables. Venetian style chandeliers dropped from an ornate ceiling, showering everyone with a soft yellow light.
A devastatingly handsome Henry sat at a corner table, looking relaxed and reasonably happy. He wore that familiar ensemble of formal dinner jacket accented with silk lapels and matching pants, his sophisticated charm emphasized by that bowtie.
His left eyebrow lifted with intrigue in response to a conversation across from him.
I’d kissed that eyebrow more times than I could count. And the rest of him, too—recklessly lavishing affection on that remarkable man.
I should have been the one seated beside him. Instead, I’d valiantly given up my seat to Reese.
Predictably, she emanated an earthy air in that chiffon gown. Her daughter Lilly sat next to her wearing a floral dress. They both looked radiant.
